The Right Shoe

Easy Tips to pick the most supportive shoe. Simple instructions and pictures help you pick out the most support footwear.

The right shoes are the most important equipment you can have to maintain healthy feet. They will protect your feet from injury, cushion your body, and provide stability. Typically, your shoes should be flexible and supportive throughout your walking stride. Here's how to pick the right walking shoes.

1st Hold the shoes in your hands with the heel of the shoe in one hand and the toe of the shoe in the other. Now bend the shoe at the toe. If the toe of the shoe will not bend this is not a good shoe for every day walking.

How to Hold the Shoe

2nd Hold the shoes in your hand with the heel of the shoe in one hand and the toe of the shoe in the other. Now try and bend the shoe in half. If the shoe bends in the middle this means that the shoe will not support the foot properly. This type of shoe is not recommended for every day walking.

Toe Bend - Good Shoe

Toe Bend - Bad Shoe

3rd Hold the shoe in your hand with the heel of the shoe in one hand and the toe of the shoe in the other. Now try and twist the shoe like a pretzel. If you can twist the shoe like a pretzel there’s not enough support in the shoe for everyday walking.

Twist - Good Shoe

Twist - Bad Shoe

4th Hold the shoe in your hands with the heel of the shoe in one hand and the toe of the shoe in the other. Now with your thumb and pointer finger squeeze the upper part of the shoe (when looking at the shoe, the bottom portion is the sole of the shoe, above that is a softer part typically made of leather, this is called the heel counter of the shoe.) If you can squeeze the heel counter of the shoe with very little effort the shoe does not have enough support to support the ankle properly.

Heel Squeeze - Good Shoe

Heel Squeeze - Bad Shoe

Now that you are armed with the knowledge of how to pick a supportive shoe, LET’S GO SHOPPING.